Which operating system is best for a Xeon server to run VPN connection and File server (Windows/Mac)

[dan4duk]

I've recently bought a physical server machine (Xeon Processor Tower) with the intention of setting up a VPN and a file server for an office environment.

The office had a 100MB/s Downstream and 40MB/s Upstream Internet connection.

The office computers are a mixture of Windows 8, 10 and Mac computers.

I am struggling to decide/ understand which operating system is the most suitable for running a system VPN connection and file server. Windows NT or Linux... It needs to support both Windows and OSX.

Any help is highly appreciated! Many thanks in advance

 

[ComputerSecurityGuy]

Hmm. You might need virtualization, but Unix based OS is the way to go, either Linux or BSD. BSD is traditional for VPN and NAS because if anything it's more secure and lighterweight than Linux. A BSD based NAS, with a VPN operating in a good old BSD jail, might be your best option.

 

[dan4duk]

Hmm. You might need virtualization, but Unix based OS is the way to go, either Linux or BSD. BSD is traditional for VPN and NAS because if anything it's more secure and lighterweight than Linux. A BSD based NAS, with a VPN operating in a good old BSD jail, might be your best option.

What's the quickest and easiest to setup? I mean could I just install Windows 7 Pro on it and use that to administer a VPN with file server?

 

[ComputerSecurityGuy]

Windows would work, but probably be messy. I would just try FreeNAS, I suppose, which is quick to configure and updates nicely along with supporting Windows, OSX and Linux file shares. It supports ZFS, which is useful for NAS, and if you add a jail you should be able to get a VPN running fairly quickly.

 

[Alabalcho]

Hmm. You might need virtualization, but Unix based OS is the way to go, either Linux or BSD. BSD is traditional for VPN and NAS because if anything it's more secure and lighterweight than Linux. A BSD based NAS, with a VPN operating in a good old BSD jail, might be your best option.

What's the quickest and easiest to setup? I mean could I just install Windows 7 Pro on it and use that to administer a VPN with file server?

For point and click - Windows server, Hyper-V, and RRAS

 

[dan4duk]

Thank you all for your replies and advice. Greatly appreciated. I am rolling with the Windows Server option (even though I was reluctant because of mix of devices & OS) I feel for simplicity and future administration Windows was the simplest and most effective choice.